I’ve just finished the final changes/up-dates to the web site prior to presentation in class tonight. If you saw this site a month ago, you may not recognize it now. I’ve changed the theme, which I’m still not crazy about, as well as the make-up and arrangement of several pages. I still have quite a bit of work to do with annotating the web sites in Genius Hour. I plan to add URL’s (typed out, not just links) and screen shots to the annotations. I also plan to add pages of teacher resources and social studies standards. I still need to put my resume’ in the form of a pdf instead of a word document and tweak the social media links. Oh, and the pictures. I love the image of the old barn, but using it once is enough. There are still a few pages where I’ll change from the barn to other pictures. And Ben Stein is only holding my place til I find decent picture of me (if one exists!)

Nothing much to tell today about my research as about my recent computer disasters. But that’s just griping. And I’m tired of hearing myself gripe. Well, once more. Some of you have heard my sad tale already about my computer dying last Friday morning, taking it to the shop, getting it back 5:00 pm Friday. It worked great for about an hour, it went to sleep and when I went back to it…nothing. .

Not counting on getting it fixed but taking it back anyway tosame place locally Saturday, driving 45 minutes to buy a new one because I couldn’t depend on the old one working, getting home and hooking up the new computer Saturday evening only to find that my monitor has died, having to drive another 45 minutes (closest Best Buy is in Peachtree City) Sunday to buy a new monitor. I couldn’t get the old, now working (maybe) computer back from the shop until 1:00 pm Monday. In the meantime, I took my overpriced, underused macbook air to have it appraised (PeachMac) for sale only to find anything they’d offer me ($800) would be on store credit only. Best Buy valued this $1,200 laptop as $0 because there’s a new model that has been introduced recently. I really don’t want anything from Apple anymore. My iPod won’t even sync with music on the computer. Maybe I’ll try again with new computer.

Whew. End of semester anxiety. But it will be over soon. (Won't it?)So, the progress I’ve made (today) on web site, which is my 20% project, is getting a whole new theme and re-arranging a lot of stuff. Since all the web sites (a ton of them) for my 20% project are on the old computer, I wasn’t able to do much to the links pages.

I’m sorry. I know everybody has computer problems from time to time. I’m fortunate that this time they didn’t hit until just after a major project was due for Reading class. But now there’s another due and I’ve lost 3 days.

Since I switched themes, there’s even more to do on the site: changing pictures, page arrangement, etc. I can see where this could be full-time job for someone.I guess what I'm saying is underscoring what Eunice has always said: have a plan B when it comes to technology. I didn't, and it cost me some big headaches.

Thinking about reorganizing this web site already. As we know, very little in life falls neatly into categories, and so the pages on this site won’t, either. The heart of this site will eventually be the links to other sites in history, government, etc. But how will this site be any different, much less better than any other similar site? I don’t know. Maybe it won’t be. But I’m planning that it will be…for my students, at least. That’s why I’m setting it up now as I think the beginning framework should be, and counting on students to make suggestions later as to how it can be most useful to them once it’s really in use. I’m not satisfied with the home page. It looks like a site that I wouldn’t want to spend much time investigating if I had just found it for the first time. This is going to take a lot of tweaking.

Aren't computers supposed to help you stay organized? I thought I was doing a fair job over the years, what with making folders and sub-folders and all. I can't tell you how many Word documents I've created titled "web sites." And "more web sites." And "web sites 2.0." And "history web sites." And "more history web sites." You get the idea. Now, trying to find them. I have found some, but I know I saved lots. I and was right about something. I knew I would use them someday, so I'm glad I kept all those lists. The web sites on the Word documents are just copied and pasted urls. I generally have a pretty rotten computer which either won't save favorites or freezes up often, so I've just developed the habit of copying and pasting urls onto Word instead of trying to add to favorites. So, now I'm in the process of finding these files. Hopefully by the time I come across them, I'll have figured out how to make the links work for the links pages. If it's not one thing it's two or three others.

My Genius Hour for the Instructional Technology for Teachers class is the development of this site into a tool for students to help them get started with their Genius Hour. I'm feeling like anything but a genius right now as I'm having difficulty with the "links" page. It is a critical part of this site and I need help.

Genius Hour is that time and effort allowed to a student, in the education setting, for him or her to work on any project relating to the subject of the course or lesson, as determined by the teacher. More on this later.

So, I've set up this blog page. The purpose, for now, is to document progress on my "20% Project." This past week is the first I've heard of a "20% project." It's a very cool concept. I also learned of the term "Genius Hour." Apparently the 2 are similar or identical concepts. But I prefer the term "Genius Hour." It's not only a very cool concept but also a very cool name.Now, what is Genius Hour?